Polar Max Project Reaches Major Milestone With the Start of Construction Ceremony at Davie Shipyard in Québec
The Polar Max project reached an important milestone today as Davie and ALMACO officially marked the start of construction with a project kickoff ceremony at Davie’s shipyard in Lévis, Québec. The event signaled the formal transition from planning and design into full execution for one of Canada’s most significant shipbuilding programs under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
Lévis, Québec – March 31, 2026
Polar Max is a next‑generation icebreaking vessel designed to strengthen Canada’s Arctic and maritime capabilities. Developed as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the project aims to deliver a highly capable modern work ship able to operate in demanding northern conditions, while supporting long‑term industrial development and shipbuilding expertise in Canada.
The ceremony brought together representatives from Davie, ALMACO, project partners, government authorities, industry stakeholders, neutral development organizations and media representatives to mark the importance and national relevance of the program.
Full Scale Mock-up Cabins on Display
The event featured a series of inspiring speeches by key dignitaries, Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Bernard Drainville, Minister for Lévis; George Pirie, Minister of Mines (Ontario); Steven Blaney, Mayor of Lévis; James Davies, CEO, and Lindsey Kettel, President of Davie; as well as Vilhelm Roberts, Executive Chairman of ALMACO Group. During the presentations, guests were also treated to a live video stream presented by Davie, which captured the start of the steel welding process in real-time.
Photo credits: Jean-Pierre Cantin – Photographe
Following these presentations, participants were invited to tour the full-scale mock-up cabins on display at the shipyard. These mock-ups, complemented by a 3Drendered flythrough video, offered an early and tangible perspective on the accommodation spaces being developed for Polar Max. The displays highlighted modern work ship accommodation design and functionality, allowing stakeholders to see firsthand how the interior spaces will support crew comfort and operational efficiency in northern conditions.
The exhibition allowed stakeholders to experience key interior solutions first‑hand, supporting early alignment on design, layout and technical solutions before fabrication advances further.
From Plans to Execution
“Starting construction of Polar Max in Lévis marks an important new phase in a project that is already moving at an exceptional pace. Polar Max shows what can be achieved when trusted allies work together to deliver strategically vital projects when they are needed most. We are proud that work is now moving forward in Canada, where this program will strengthen long-term shipbuilding capacity while helping deliver this ship on time and on budget.” James Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Davie.”
From Le Groupe ALMACO’s perspective, the kickoff represents both a technical and symbolic milestone as the mock-up cabins have been completed and presented to the customer.
The hull is being constructed at Davie-owned Helsinki Shipyard, with Le Groupe ALMACO delivering interior accommodation spaces and other essential areas during this stage. In parallel, in Québec, Davie’s skilled shipbuilders and Le Groupe ALMACO lead the design, procurement, and fabrication of the 1,400-ton superstructure – the top part of the ship.
“Seeing Polar Max move into active construction is a proud moment for our entire organization,” said Vilhelm Roberts, Executive Chairman of the Board of ALMACO Group. “This project builds on our long‑standing collaboration with Davie and reflects our shared commitment to delivering world‑class ships through close, hands‑on cooperation between Canada and Finland.”
Toni Urpilainen, Project Manager at ALMACO, highlighted the value of early engagement and on‑site collaboration.
“The kickoff event and the mock-up cabins give everyone a concrete understanding of what we are building and how the spaces will function in real life,” he said. “This early alignment is essential for quality, safety and efficiency as the project progresses into fabrication.”
AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION UNDER THE NATIONAL SHIPBUILDING STRATEGY
The Polar Max project is being executed as a close international collaboration, with work taking place in both Canada and Finland. As part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the program plays a key role in renewing Canada’s federal fleet while reinforcing domestic shipbuilding capacity through long‑term partnerships, skilled employment and industrial innovation.
Today’s start of construction ceremony marks the beginning of an intensified execution phase, supported by close coordination between Canadian and Finnish project teams.
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About ALMACO Group
ALMACO Group is a full turnkey provider for Newbuilding, Modernization and Lifecycle services of Accommodation, Catering and Laundry areas for the Marine and Offshore industries. ALMACO builds, refurbishes and serves complete interiors and hotel areas of marine vessels and offshore units including galleys, provision stores, refrigeration machinery, laundries, public spaces, as well as complete living quarters. ALMACO works with owners and builders around the world providing full turnkey solutions comprising design and engineering, project management, construction, spare parts, and maintenance. ALMACO was founded in 1998 and has offices in Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, and the USA.
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About Davie
Based in Québec, Canada since 1825, Davie is a world-class designer and builder of specialist, mission-critical ships such as icebreakers, ferries and warships for government and commercial customers. Davie became a partner in the Government of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy on April 4, 2023. This historic agreement is for the design and construction of the largest and most technologically advanced ice-going ships ever constructed in and for Canada. The initial $8.5 billion package of work includes seven heavy icebreakers and two large hybrid-powered ferries. In November 2023, Davie, part of Group Davie, acquired Finland’s Helsinki Shipyard, the world leader in icebreaker design and construction.